BART riders celebrate grand opening of West Dublin/Pleasanton Station Saturday

BART riders celebrate grand opening of West Dublin/Pleasanton Station Saturday

Officials held ribbon cutting ceremony today

Early tomorrow morning, drivers exhausted by fighting gridlock and pollution in the I-580/I-680 corridor will begin to find relief in the form of a brand new BART station.

BART will open the West Dublin/Pleasanton Station to fare paying passengers at about 5:45 am Saturday, 15 minutes before the first Daly City-bound train departs the new station at 6:03 am.

The grand opening of BART’s 44th station will add to the system 1,200 new parking spots, more racks for bicyclists and eventually a transit village where people who prefer not to own a vehicle will be able to live, work, commute, shop and play all within walking distance of BART.

Quick Facts:

Opens for service Sat., Feb. 19

Nearly 1,200 parking spaces

Pedestrian access across highway

One-way fare to four downtown San Francisco stations: $5.40

One-way fare to 12th St./Oakland City Center Station: $3.85

BART’s 44th station

1st new station since SFO Extension stations opened in June 2003

Prevents 97,180 lbs. of pollution from entering the atmosphere each day

Project created 2,500 jobs (direct, indirect and induced jobs)

"This new station represents smart growth in two ways,” BART Board President Bob Franklin said. “It represents smart growth by adding BART's first infill station instead of expanding outwards and by increasing mixed-use development around the station to give people additional reasons to take public transportation."

Hundreds Enjoyed Ribbon Cutting Today

Franklin was among the hundreds on hand for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the station, which BART expects to serve an average of 4,300 riders each weekday this year and to see ridership grow over time. With amenities such as Reserved Parking permits available for the two garages and connections to Livermore Amador Valley Transportation Authority (LAVTA) buses, the station provides a new and convenient option for choosing public transportation. The result is expected to be reduced traffic congestion and better access to downtown Dublin and to Pleasanton’s Stoneridge area.

“I see this station as a key new hub in Northern California’s transportation network,” BART Board Vice President John McPartland said. McPartland’s district includes the Dublin/Pleasanton area. “It took years of hard work and perseverance to bring us to where we are today.”

The station gives Bay Area residents an opportunity to save energy and protect the environment. With one round trip on BART preventing 22.6 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, the station’s 4,300 average daily riders will combine to prevent 97,180 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each day.

Innovative Partnerships

The $106 million project was made possible by public-private partnerships between BART and firms such as Jones Lang LaSalle. For example, Windstar Communities and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors funded more than $21 million.

“These innovative public-private partnerships are truly creative,” BART General Manager Dorothy Dugger said. Alameda County Surplus, the Cities of Dublin and Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley Transportation Commission also rallied together to contribute $8 million toward this station.

The new station is just steps from Safeway, Inc.’s corporate headquarters and the company was a significant event supporter to the ribbon cutting ceremony.

West Dublin/Pleasanton Station breaks up what had been the longest stretch of tracks between two stations, 10 miles from Castro Valley to Dublin/Pleasanton. BART considers building the station between two freeways while trains operated on the track something of an engineering marvel.